French tennis player fined $16.5k for epic meltdown at Washington Open (VIDEO)

French tennis player Benoit Paire has been fined $16,500 by the ATP for an outrageous tantrum at the end of his first-round match at the Washington Open in the USA.

The world number 55, Paire, smashed several rackets in the third set against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis after he missed a shot, sending his overhead smash directly into the net. At 5-2 down, the furious Frenchman smashed his racket four times on the ground before hurling it off the court.

Continuing his tantrum, Paire kicked another racket as he walked to his chair – before smashing it into the ground. He also threw two more while returning to court to resume the match, which ended in favour of Baghdatis 6-3 3-6 6-2.

To complete his breakdown, Paire flung yet another racket, this time into the net, before approaching Baghdatis for a friendly handshake after the match. Paire was booed by spectators as he walked off court following his first-round defeat.